Vernier dial



Feb. 7, 192s. 1,658,512

LE BONSIEU R VERNIER DIAL Filed June l2.v 1926 INVENTOR HlS ATTORNEY.

Patented eb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

LIE BONSIEUR, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, .ASSIGNQR TO THE GENERAL INDUSTRIESr COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VERNIER DIAL.

.Application :filed June 12,

My invention relates to Vernier dials vand relates more particularly to an improved transmission for the same.

One of the objects of my invention is to accomplish a reduction in the ratio of speed between the operating dial and an operated shaft.

Another object of my invention is to provide a frictional gearing for accomplishing the desired reduction effectively.

Another object of my invention is to provide a Vernier dial operating device which is durable in construction, easily and quickly assembled from a minimum number of parts and in such a manner that it may not readily become out of adjustment.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will be apparent by reference to the accompanying description of an embodiment thereof, and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention applied to the instrument board of a radio receiving set;

Fig. 2 shows a View in side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3v shows a medial transverse section of the same;

embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary enlarged sectional View of the sleeve and gearing; and

Fig. 6 shows a detail view of the orbit friction ring.

Referring to all the figures of the drawings in all of which like reference characters designate like parts, at 1, I show a fragment of an instrument board`of the usual radio receiving set now in common use, at 2 an annular face plate, at 3 a hollow operating knob having the usual graduated base plate portion 4, and a fiat preferably Celluloid ring 5 having graduations 7 on its outer face and adapted to be viewed, when reading for adjustment of the condenser, through an arcuate sight aperture 8 provided in the face plate in alignment with the passage of the celluloi-d ring. A depending peripheral outer surface of the instrument board and provides a chamber 10 for housing a preferably frictional gearing for operating the condenser, and the Celluloid ring and its graduation readings at the rear of the sight Fig. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the iiange 9 of the face plate 2 abuts against the l 1926. Serial No. 115,447.

,aperture 8 in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully described in detail. A pin 11 1s provided and projects downwardly from the abuttingface of the flange 9 and is projected into an opening 12 disposed in the instrument board adapted to prevent rotation of the face plate 2 when mounted on the instrument board as will be hereinafter set forth.

The usual condenser actuating shaft 13 projects laterally a predetermined distance through an opening 14 provided in the instrument board 1 for the purpose, said o en` ing and shaft being disposed in axial alignment with a centrallydisposed bearing aperture 15 of the face plate 2 when the same is mounted for operation of the condenser. A knob supporting cylindrical metallic insert 16 closed at its knob abutting end and open at its lower end 17, is projected through the bearing aperture 15 coaXially :of ,the shaft 13. A hollow cylindrical cap 18 is telescoped into the insert 16, being of less diameter than the cylindrical bore of the insert, said cap is provided with an open cud 19 and apertured at 20 in its upper wall 21, said aperture is adapted to receive the bearing portion 22 of a screw 23, threaded at its upper portion 24 for retaining the knob 3 and insert 16 in locked relation and further to permit relative rotation of the same on the cap 18 by virtue of the bearing portion 22 heretofore referred to.

The side Walls of the knob 3, insert 16, and cap 18 have aligned apertures, 81, 82 and 83, respectively, the latter of which is internally threaded for the reception of a set screw 25, capablel of being actuated through a suitable tool inserted into the said :ipertures for tightening the cap on the shaft to prevent relative rotation thereof.

An annular groove 36 is disposed in the insert'l adjacent its open end and to the rear of the inner wall 27 of the face plate 2, and adapted to receive an annular ring 28 therein which forms an annular spacing shoulder 29, and also function to retain the cap and its associated parts in the bearing aperture 15. A centrally disposed driving gear 30 is inserted over the end of the insert 16 and mounted contiguous to the under face of the shoulder and rigidly secured thereon by upsetting the end of the insert, as shown at 31, or in any well known manner such as by sweating, or the like.

An annular plate 32 having a centrally disposed opening is inserted over the open end of the cap 18 and rigidly secured thereto by sweating the same thereon, as shown at 33, or in any well known manner. The plate is so disposed that its periphery lies adjacent to the depending flange 9 of the face plate and its beveled integral friction ring segment portion 34 formed by cutting away the plate .at 55, said ring lies below and in close proximity to the bottom wall of the face plate, and is adapted to support the Celluloid graduation ring 5 which may be secured to the plate 32 by glue, or the like, at 35. The main body portion 36 of the plate is bent upwardly at 37 the depressed portion 38 formed thereby elevating the friction ring segment into horizontal alignment with the axis of rotation of the driving gear 30 and a pair of driven spring pressed frictional disks 41 and 42, interposed between the sun gear and friction ring segment, which will now be described in detail. The depressed portion 38, heretofore referred to, also permits the disks 41 and 42 to function completely.

At 43 I have provided an aperture in the face plate 2, disposed centrally between the inner and outer peripheries of the friction ring seg-ment and sun gear, respectively, and to the rear of the base plate portion 4 of the knob 3, into which is inserted an internally threaded bushing 44. The disks 41 and 42, heretofore referred to, are adapted to rotate about the aperture as their common center and .are spaced from each other by a washer 45 and are mounted upon a hollow metallic cylindrical shaft 46. A washer may be interposed between the bottom wall of the face plate and the hollow shaft 46 and thereby space the upper disk 41 from the bottom wall of the face plate to insure more efficient operation of the disks and reducing friction between the same to a minimum. A stai' shaped spring 48 having a centrally diS- posed opening is inserted onto the lower end of the hollow shaft 46 having preferably four spring arms 49 projecting therefrom at right angles each to the other, and adapted lo be bent inwardly towards the lower disk 42 to cause the disk 42 to be pressed 1n a direction upwardly towards the upper disk 41. A washer or retaining ring 50 is now inserted on the end of the hollow shaft 46, thc disks, springs, washer and spacer betrated and described by upsetting the ends of the hollow shaft at 51 and 52 or in any well known manner such as sweating, or the like. A bolt 53 is threaded at 54 having the usual head 55- provided with an intermediate bearing portion 56, is secured into the threaded bushing 44 to retain the hollow shaft and the associated parts in rotative rela'- tion with the face plate 2, said intermediate ing rigidly secured in the position illus.

portion 56 and head 55 ofthe bolt aording a bearing and retaining means for the disks.

The peripheries of the disks 41 and 42 are beveled outwardly at 60 and 61 and conform to the bevels of the sun gear or driving gear and the friction orbit ring and are adapted to grip the same in a secure but slightly resilient manner by virtue of the star spring so that rotation of the sun gear or driving gear will rotate the disks or driven gear which in sequence will drive the friction orbit ring through its orbit,carrying with it the graduated Celluloid ring 5. The disks or driven gear are prevented from lateral movement by the stationary bearing shaft, heretofore referred to and describe-l.

The aperture 43 is also preferably so disposed that when the graduation on the celluloid ring is at 50 the center axis of the aperture is disposed directly below and in vertical alignment with the axis of the shaft 13.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a reduction of speed, preferably 3 to 1 ratio, may be had between the knob 3 an-fl the shaft 13 when the dial is turned by the fingers of the operator by virtue of the apparatus, heretofore described. A driving connection will be had through the dial and the insert to the sun gear or driving gear which in turn drives the gearing, heretofore referred to and described, and finally the condenser shaft 13 at the desired reduced speed, through the fagency of the plate 32 secured thereto. Proper reading of the adjustment of the condenser may be had at the sight 8.

The s ring pressed disks insure positive action, s ippage being reduced to a minimum by virtue of the action of the spring. Back lash, present in toothed gears is very undesirable on radio vernier dials, is largely dispensed with and a smooth, accurate, positive and quiet operation results from my improved mechanism..

Having thus described my invention in a single embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the same but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, a rotatable knob affixed to one Side ofthe base, a shaft supportling the knob projected through an opening in the base, a cap secured to the shaft, a tubular insert telescop'ed over the said cap, said knob being affixed over the end of the insert, means for retaining the knob, insert, cap and shaft together, a motion communicating transmission comprisin a central element adapted to receive rotative motion from the said shaft, an intermediate rotary element and a ring segment element, said intermediate element communicating rictiona y from the central element tothe ring se ent eleof a portion of a radio receiving set, which may be aiiixed to said ring segment.

2. In a radio Vernier tuning dial, the combination with an apertured instrument board, of an axially apertured dial base fixed to the instrument board with the apertures aligned, diametrieally opposed sight openings in the base, a knob disposed to one side of the base,`a shaft projecting through the apertures, a sleeve telescoped over the shaft,

a tubular insert carried by the knob telescoped over the sleeve and rotatably connected thereto, means for non-rotatably securing the sleeve to the shaft, a frietional gearing for transmitting reduced rotative motion from the knob to the shaft comprising a central driving element rigidly carried by the insert, an intermediate rotary element carried by the base and a ring segment element secured to the sleeve, said central driving element rotatable by the knob and adapted to rotate the intermediate rotary element, said intermediate rotary element communicating motion to the ring segment element, and a disk having indicating indices on the front face thereof, said indicating indices diskl secured to the ring segment element and rotatable therewith to present the indices visible through one of the sight openings when the knob is rotated.

3. In a radio Vernier tuning dial, the combination with an instrument board having an aperture therein, of a base having an aperture in alignment with the instrument board aperture, a knob disposed to .one side of the base, a shaft projecting through an opening in the base, said knob rotatably carried by the shaft, a frictional transmission gearing communicating reduced rotary motion from the knob to the Vradio instrument comprising a central driving element, an intermediate rotary 'element and a ring segment element, said central driving element and said ring segment element having beveled peripheral edges, said central driving element adapted to receive rotative motion fromthe shaft, said intermediate rotary element comprising a pair of coaxial spring pressed disks, said disks journaled on a bearing projecting from the rear face of the base, said disks having their inner peripheral edges beveled and adapted to frictionally engage the beveled peripheries of the central driving element, and the ring segment element, and an indieating and autographing ring segment carried by the element and rotatable therewith when the knob is rotated.

4. In a radio Vernier tuning dial, the cem-A bination with an instrument boardhaving an aperture therein, of a base having an aperture in alignment with the instrument board aperture, a pair of diametrically opposed openings in the base, a knob disposed to one side of the base, a shaft projecting through an opening in the base, said knob rotatably carried by the shaft, a frictional transmission gearing communicating reduced rota-ryv motion from the knob to the radio instrument comprising a central drivfng element, an intermediate rotary element and a ring segment element, said central driving element and said orbit ring element having beveled pcripheral edges, said central driving element adapted to receive rotative motion from the shaft, said intermediate rotary element comprising a pair of coaxial spring pressed disks jonrnal'ed on a bearing supported on the rear face of the base, said disks having their inner peripheral edges beveled and adapted to frietionally engage the beveled peripheries of the central driving element and the ring segment element, and a graduated ring carried by the ring segment element and rotatable therewith when the knob is rotated and visible through one of the base openings, l

said ring having a blank portion visible through the other base openings on which the station call may be autographed.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, said base having dametrieally opposed sight openings therein, a knob disposed to one side of the base, a shaft projecting through an opening in the base, a knob rotatably carried by the shaft, a sleeve non-rotatably secured to the shaft, said .sleeve having an annular fiange, a tubular insert telescoped over the sleeve and rotatable thereon, said insert having an annularI fiange, and a. frictional gearing adapted to communicate rotative motion from the knob to the shaft, comprising a central driving Ielement secured to the annular flange of the insert, an intermediate rotary element rotatable on a bearing projecting inwardly of the base and a ring element secured to the sleeveadjacent its annular flange, means for indicating the adjustment of the radio recefving set carried by the ring element and rotatable therewith when the knob is rotated.

6. In a Vernier dial adapted for applicationto operating shafts of radio equipment to rotate such shafts, the combination with a dial base of shallow cup form, an operatiing knob, a tubular shaft extending through the central portion of the base end wall, said knob affixed to said shaft on the outer side of the end wall, a tubular element telescoped within the tubular shaft and having its axial bore adapted to receive the shaft of the radio apparatus to be rotated, means to secure such shaft to the said tubular element wit-bill th@ 1291@ there@ te prevent relative luf) llo

rotation of said element and said shaft, a ring segment element having an inwardly projecting portion adapted to be relatively non-rotatably secured to the tubular element, a friction drive wheel aiixed to the tubular shaft and disposed intermediate the said ring segment port-ion and the inner face of the base end Wall, and an intermediate motion-communieating friction disk interposed between the driving wheel and the ring segment, said` disk being rotatably carried on the base end wall, said ring segment element being provided with an arcuate indicating scale on its face disposed adjacent the end wall of the base, said base being apertured in a portion adjacent a portion of its side Wall to permit a view of the scale from the outer face of the end wall.

7. In a vernier dial adapted for applicat-ion to operating shafts of radio equipment to rotate such shafts, the combination with a dial base of shallow cup form, an operating knob, a tubular shaft extending through the central portion of the base end wal-l, said knob affixed to said shaft on the outer side of the end wall, a tubular element telescoped Within the tubular shaft and having its axial bore adapted to receive the shaft of the radio apparatus to be rotated, means to secure such shaft to the said tubular element within the bore thereof to prevent relative rotation of sai-d element and said shaft, a ring segment element having an inwardly projecting portion adapted to be relatively non-rotatably secured to the tubular element, a friction drive wheel atlixed to the tubular shaft and disposed intermediate the said ring segment portion and the inner face of the base end wall, and an intermediate motion-communicating friction disk interposed between the driving wheel and the ring segment, said disk being rotatably carried on the base end wall, said ring segment element being provided with an arcuate indicating scale on its face disposed adjacent the end wall of the base, said base being apertured in a portion adjacent a portion of its side knob aixed to said shaft on the outer side of the end wall, a tubular element telescoped within the tubular shaft and having its axial bore adapted to vreceive the shaft of the s radio apparatus to be rotated, means to secure such shaft to the said tubular element within the bore thereof to prevent relative rotation of said element andvsaid shaft, a ring segment element having an inwardly projecting portion adapted to be relatively non-rotatably secured to the tubular element, a friction .drive wheel aixed to the tubular shaft and disposed intermedia-te the said ring segment portion and the inner face of the base end wall, and an intermediate motion-communicating friction disk interposed between the driving wheel and the ring segment, said disk being rotatably carried on the base end wall, said ring segment element being provided with an arcuate indicating scale on its face disposed adjacent the end wall of the base, said base being apertured in a portion adjacent a portion of its side wall to permit a view of the scale from the outer face of the end wall, said driving wheel, ring segment element and intermediate disk being disposed within the cup-shaped base and between the plane of the rim of the cup-shaped base and its end wall, and means carried on the rim of the base side wall adapted to register with a recess in the face of an instrument board to restrain the base from rotative movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 27th day of May, 1926.

LE BONSIEUR. 

